Fire creates havoc in Dombivli

No casualties or injuries were reported as the workers managed to escape the fire on time

Loud explosions originating from the company, located near Sandap village on Manpada Road, could be heard by the nearby residents.(Rishikesh Choudhary)

Twelve workers of Ultra Pure Chemical Company in Dombivli MIDC had a narrow escape after a major fire broke out around 9am on Saturday.

Loud explosions originating from the company, located near Sandap village on Manpada Road, could be heard by the nearby residents.

No casualties or injuries were reported as the workers managed to escape the fire on time.

The fire even spread to a neighbouring firm, Jagruti Chemicals. It was further spreading to a gas cylinder godown nearby but fire officials tamed it on time.

The fire officials managed to remove around 153 gas cylinders from the godown, which brought the situation under control.

Rahul Nale, 31, a resident of the nearby Lodha Complex, said, “We heard sounds of explosions and the entire area slipped into darkness soon after the fire broke out. Had the gas cylinder godown caught fire, there would have been loss of life as slum-dwellers live behind the godown. However, the fire officials managed to control the entire situation.”

Suresh Shinde, fire officer, Dombivli MIDC, said, “We are yet to ascertain the cause of fire. The locals said there was an explosion which led to the fire. We are suspecting that their might have been some chemical reaction in the boilers during the mixing or shifting of the chemicals that eventually led to the fire.”